Page 19 of Ethan's Command

“Harry, the guard. He’s stationed just inside the doors.”

“OK,” Ethan said. “I’ll talk to him if necessary. Stay calm and stay right here.”

Brooklyn nodded, her heart hammering as Ethan walked away. He crossed the parking lot, phone in hand, and appeared to be making a call as he casually approached the soccer field. He glanced toward the van, then veered toward the bleachers, blending in with the parents watching the game.

Brooklyn watched him, her anxiety mounting. He paced along the bleachers, occasionally changing direction to avoid drawing attention. Finally, he made his way to the van, which was partially obscured by a large SUV. For a moment, he disappeared from view.

Her pulse quickened. What’s taking so long? Then, Ethan reappeared, shaking his head as he slipped his phone into his pocket. He walked back to her car, opened the door, and slid into the passenger seat.

“It’s a white van,” he said. “But it’s not the white van. It’s a minivan. Probably one of the parents from the opposing team.”

Brooklyn exhaled and her body sagged with relief. “I’m sorry.” She rested her forehead on the steering wheel. “I just?—”

“Don’t be sorry,” Ethan interrupted, squeezing her shoulder. “You have nothing to apologize for. We found out today that the joyriding kids weren’t the ones who tried to grab Liam. I’d be scared too.”

“I just don’t understand,” she murmured, rubbing her face. “None of this makes sense. Who would want to kidnap Liam? My brother doesn’t have money. I don’t have money. There’s no benefit for anyone.”

“It’s tough,” Ethan said. He hesitated, his expression going blank.

“What is it?” Brooklyn demanded.

Ethan hesitated, then said, “I have some questions for you.”

Brooklyn immediately tensed over his serious expression and his tone. “About what?”

“About something Nova told me.”

“Nova… the cop?”

Ethan nodded. “She’s actually DEA. She was there because something happened to some of the men she arrested.”

“What does that have to do with me and Liam?”

“Hopefully nothing.” Ethan scanned the parking lot and then met Brooklyn’s gaze. “Nova ran the plates on the van for us,” Ethan explained. “They came back registered to a company.”

“A company?” Brooklyn asked, frowning. “What kind of company?”

“It’s a front,” Ethan said. “On paper, it’s just another import-export company in Hawaii. There are plenty of those around, so it wouldn’t normally raise suspicion. But Nova tied it to the Yakuza.”

Brooklyn stared at him, her breath catching. “The Yakuza? What the hell would they want with Liam?”

“I don’t know,” Ethan admitted. “But it’s not random. The Yakuza don’t ‘borrow’ vans or use their resources for no reason. Whatever this is, it’s deliberate.”

Frustrated, Brooklyn slammed her fist against the steering wheel. “No. Maybe it’s just someone who works for them and it has nothing to do with the Yakuza directly.”

Ethan shook his head. “That’s not how it works. People don’t ‘accidentally’ work for the Yakuza. If someone involved in the kidnapping attempt is tied to them, then it’s their operation.”

Brooklyn’s chest tightened as she tried to process his words. “Liam is just a kid! My brother doesn’t have anything to do with organized crime. I don’t have anything to do with organized crime. None of this makes sense.”

“I know it’s hard to understand,” Ethan said gently. “But can you think back: Has anything unusual happened recently? Anything different, even before the attempt to take Liam?”

Brooklyn shook her head. “No. It’s been normal. Liam’s dad went on his business trip, so Liam came to stay with me. That’s it.”

“What about the day it happened?” Ethan pressed. “You guys were at the coffee shop. Did anything happen there?”

Brooklyn sighed, trying to recall. “No. Liam was just playing video games with his friends in the back, like always. Dave, the owner, lets the boys hang out there as long as they follow the rules and don’t disturb his other customers. It’s safe. Dave keeps an eye on them.”

“Who was Liam playing with?” Ethan asked.

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